Israel, UNIDO expand cooperation on food security, industrial development in Africa

Israel’s National Agency for International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MASHAV) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on May 14, 2012 signed an agreement to increase cooperation on food security, water management, the empowerment of women and industrial development in Africa and in Least Developed Countries.

The new cooperation will be implemented under the framework of UNIDO’s Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative (3ADI).

In a statement, UNIDO said the memorandum of understanding was signed during an official visit to Israel by its Director-General, Kandeh K. Yumkella.

The cooperation between MASHAV and UNIDO, according to the statement, will focus on capacity building in such areas as agriculture-related technologies and biotechnology; support to small and medium industrial enterprises; women’s empowerment; women’s entrepreneurship development; rural entrepreneurship development; and environment and sustainability.

By Ekow Quandzie